Ofcom urged to investigate GB News interview with Trump over claims of inaccuracy | GB News

Britain’s media regulator Ofcom is under pressure to investigate a GB News interview with Donald Trump after complaints that it contained misleading and inaccurate claims that the network failed to challenge.

The right-wing channel claimed to have conducted a “global exclusive interview” with the US president in November, in which Trump asserted that human-caused climate change was a “hoax,” that London had no-police zones and that the capital had “sharia law.”

Trump made other claims about law and order and immigration, which critics said were either left unchallenged or effectively endorsed by GB News interviewer Bev Turner, host of her late-night US show.

Among those calling for an investigation is Chris Panatavala, Ofcom’s founding director of standards. He told The Guardian that he had “never seen anything similar on a local TV channel established in the UK.”

Ofcom officials have spent the past few weeks examining at least three detailed complaints co-signed by tens of thousands of people, but have not yet decided whether to launch a formal investigation. The regulator faces increasing accusations that it is reluctant to intervene in politically difficult neutrality issues.

The complaints cite rules stating that broadcasters must not “materially mislead the public” and rules relating to due impartiality.

A complaint from Bob Ward, of the London School of Economics’ Grantham Institute for Climate Change and Environment Research, focused on Trump’s claims about human-caused climate change. Trump said: “The whole thing is a hoax… but your country is one of the worst countries.”

Trump has also made disputed claims about red tape and taxes related to drilling in the North Sea, as well as noting that wind energy is “the most expensive energy you can get.” This contradicts recent research.

“GB News’ interview with President Trump was the glaring example of a British media organization collaborating with the Trump administration to undermine British democracy with this disinformation,” Ward said.

Complaints have also been made about Trump’s claim that London has areas where “the police don’t even want to go” and that “you have Sharia law where they don’t even want to obey the laws of… your country.”

There was no challenge from Turner’s comments. When Trump said people were “getting stabbed in the ass or worse,” she said: “It’s true… It’s terrible, it really is. And it makes me feel safer.” [in the US]”.

A nonpartisan complaint from the 38 Degrees campaign group noted that Turner “praised and endorsed Trump multiple times.” During the interview, she described Trump’s speech as “one of the greatest moments at the UN” and that she “loved it, it was great.”

GB News declined to comment on the complaints.

GB News is emerging as a regular platform for Trump administration figures to raise choice talking points. Carolyn Levitt, Trump’s White House press secretary, has frequently promoted the channel.

Panatvala, who was Ofcom’s founding director of standards, said the regulator was under “intense pressure to act”.

He said: “This case poses a real challenge for the regulator – not least because of the significant leeway it has already given to GB News and because it involves an interview with a sitting US president.

“While this style of interviewing – with a lack of challenge and a presenter who effectively feeds lines – may be the norm for Newsmax and Fox News, I have never seen anything similar on a local broadcaster established in the UK. There is no doubt that this program deserves investigation for possible breaches of due impartiality and misleading rules.”

“If Ofcom chooses not to investigate, it will effectively signal that the regulator has abandoned impartiality and that broadcasters no longer need to comply with these rules.”

An Ofcom spokesman said: “We are assessing complaints against our rules, but have not yet decided whether to investigate.”